inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (INP) have named three foreign investment (PMA) corporations as suspects in the forest and land fires case.
The suspect designation follows an investigation into 98 reports of alleged corporate involvement in the fires. The INP Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto stated that of the 11 corporate suspects named, three are foreign corporations and are still under investigation. The identities of the three foreign companies have not been publicly disclosed.
Chief Suyudi also revealed the alleged involvement of neighboring countries in the forest and land fires, but did not elaborate further on the countries in question. This statement drew responses from various parties, including the House of Representatives, which noted that Malaysia and Singapore also have plantation companies in Indonesian territory that are suspected of contributing to the forest and land fires.
Uli Artha Siagian, Campaign Coordinator for the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), emphasized that the Indonesian government remains the primary party responsible for preventing and mitigating forest and land fires.
"Logically, it's impossible for forest fires to recur, even within company concession areas, if the Indonesian government's law enforcement and policies are strong," he said on Wednesday (10/21/2026).
Uli also warned that the issue of foreign involvement should not be used as an excuse for the government to absolve itself of responsibility. The Singaporean government, through the National Environment Agency, released a list of 10 companies suspected of involvement in forest and land fires, based on an investigation under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.
As a follow-up, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that he would pursue all available legal avenues against these companies.
Several large companies, such as Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), Golden Agri-Resources, Wilmar International, and First Resources, have denied involvement in the forest and land fires, claiming to implement strict no-burning policies and other preventative measures.
Meanwhile, Walhi identified 93 companies affiliated with foreign business groups suspected of involvement in forest and land fires in Indonesia. Walhi data shows that fires occurred in the concession areas of several subsidiaries of large business groups based in Singapore and Malaysia, such as the Sinar Mas Group, Wilmar, Musim Mas, Sime Darby Group, and Genting Group.
Regarding national law enforcement efforts, in August 2026, the government investigated four companies in West Kalimantan suspected of being linked to forest and land fires. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the government would not hesitate to revoke company permits if violations were found that caused the forest and land fires.
However, several environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) considered the investigation of only four companies insufficient.
Walhi National Campaign Coordinator, Uli Artha Siagian, stated that since July 2026, 74 percent of hotspots in Kalimantan have been within company concession areas.
Walhi also reported a significant increase in the number of hotspots in West Kalimantan during July 2026, most of which were located in the concessions of dozens of palm oil and mining companies.
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